STUDY X. 319 



Thefe proportions might be extended to the 

 progreffions of tafting, and it might be demon- 

 (Irated, that the moft agreeable of them have fimi- 

 lar generations ; as we know, by experience, to be 

 the cafe with regard to moft fruits, whofe different 

 ftages of maturity fucceflively prefentfive favours, 

 namely, the acid, the fweet, the fugary, the vi- 

 nous, and the bitter. They are acid while grow- 

 ing, fweet as they ripen, fugary in a ftate of per- 

 feét maturity, vinous in their fermentation, and 

 bitter in a ftate of drynefs. Farther, we ftiould 

 find that the moft agreeable of thefe favours, 

 namely, the fugary, is that which occupies the 

 middle place in this progrefTion, of which it is the 

 harmonic term ; that, from it's nature, it forms 

 new harmonies, by a combination with it's ex- 

 tremes; for the beverages which are moft grateful 

 to the palate, confift of acid and fugar, as the re- 

 frefliing liquors prepared with citron-juice ; or of 

 fugar and bitter, fuch as coffee. But while I am 

 endeavouring to open new paths to Philofophy, 

 it is no part of my intention to- prefent new com- 

 binations to voluptoufnefs. 



Though I have a thorough convidion of the 

 truth of thefe elementary generations, and am able 

 to fupport them with a multitude of proofs which 

 I have colleded, in the taftes of polifiied, and of 

 fava^e, Nations, but which time permits me not, at 



prefent, 



